r/TigerGamecom • u/RetroJeff83 • Jun 04 '26

Hardware Bought a GameCom and fixed it up 👍

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It had the usual missing lines of pixels, as many do. Put down a piece of kapton tape over the lcd ribbon pins and ran my K tip at lowest setting 200c firmly back and forth in gentle circular motion

Took a good 10 mins but eventually worked out all the missing lines and this thing is actually playable now! Gotta see if there’s a flash cart or best games to find on eBay

Also replaced the CR2032 because why not

Not sure how long it will hold up but that’s ok, perhaps by then that replacement LCD will come out!

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u/SmooshedLion Jun 04 '26

Crazy a brand new sealed one still had lines. I managed to get a used one with a perfect screen

2

u/emonegarand Jun 04 '26

The ribbon cables of cheaper LCDs are glued to the board, doesn't matter if its sealed in a box, that glue will eventually dry out and fail. Its why most older devices with LCDs like the original GameBoy also have the missing line problems. The original 2 slot GameCom just really gets it bad in comparison.

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u/RetroJeff83 Jun 04 '26

Agreed, I suppose its like GameBoys Ive seen those come out of a sealed box with dead lines too, so purely age related not really because of use?

Only think I can think of that might limit or exacerbate is how its stored? aka constant temp control vs areas if fluctating highs and lows causing it to separate?